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President Obama recently nominated Mark R. Rosekind to head up the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Rosekind has a background as a specialist on human fatigue and occupies one of five seats on the National Transportation Safety Board, an independent agency. The promotion to a higher government post is rare for a member of…

The Morgantown, W. Va. City Council exceeded its constitutional authority by banning heavy trucks from the city’s downtown business district, two effected firms claim in lawsuit. In a complaint filed in the Kanawha County circuit court, plaintiffs Nuzum Trucking Co. and Preston Contractors Inc. argue that in adopting the ordinance the city usurped the state…

A Washington state bridge collapse that sent two cars tumbling into a frigid river last year was primarily the result of negligence on the part of a commercial truck driver who should have known his rig was too tall to clear the span, the state patrol said, according to a Reuters report. The truck hauling…

FMCSA has published an Information collection request submitted to the Office of Management and Budget Entitled “State Commercial Driver’s License Program Plan” as a result of requirements from Section 32305 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). MAP-21 required states to submit a plan to the Secretary describing the actions…

American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council’s 2015 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition, themed ‘Fueling the Future,’ will be held February 16-19 at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn. The event, which will be highlighted by important discussions about fuel economy standards, alternate fuels, asset utilization and tire deployment strategies, will be the most…

Nestlé Waters North America is now operating five medium-duty beverage trucks powered by propane autogas in the Los Angeles market. The trucks will deliver Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water to area businesses and residents. “Nestlé Waters North America is committed to delivering customers drinking water with reliable, innovative and efficient green transportation solutions,” said Bill Ardis,…

Orders for the Class 8 trucks that literally keep the economy in motion were “phenomenal” in October, according to FTR Associates. FTR released preliminary data showing October 2014 North American Class 8 truck net orders at 45,795 units. That made October the second highest order month ever recorded, with orders rising 87 percent month-over-month and…

Daimler AG will launch production of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans in North America, Reuters reported. “We can cover the growing demand for large vans in the North American market economically only if we produce the vehicles locally in the NAFTA region,” said Volker Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz vans. “That’s why we have decided to produce the…

More than one tow truck operator is killed every week by motorists, according to Allstate. Recently, Allstate Roadside Services teamed up with the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum (ITRHFM) to launch the “Provider Safety Advocacy” campaign to raise awareness of “Move Over” laws. As part of the national campaign, Allstate and…

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has renewed its call to ban the use of hands-free cell phones for all drivers operating commercial motor vehicles. NTSB issued its recommendation in late October as part of a final report on a May 2013 collision involving a freight train and a dump truck in Rosedale, MD. The…